London Marathon draws 56,640 finishers

The 2026 TCS London Marathon ended with 59,830 finishers on Sunday, April 26, a new Guinness World Records mark for the largest marathon field ever to complete a race. (guinnessworldrecords.com) (ukrunchat.co.uk) That total beat the previous record of 59,226 set by the New York City Marathon in November 2025. London Marathon Events had said before the race that about 59,000 runners were expected. (ukrunchat.co.uk) (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The race also produced a historic elite men’s result. Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe won in 1:59:30, which World Athletics recognized as a world record and the first official sub-two-hour marathon. (worldathletics.org) Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won the women’s race in 2:15:41, lowering her own women-only world record. Hellen Obiri finished second in 2:15:53 and Joyciline Jepkosgei was third in 2:15:55. (worldathletics.org) (watchathletics.com) The turnout number changed the scale of the story around London’s 46th edition. Olympics.com had noted that 56,640 finishers in 2025 made London the largest marathon ever at the time. (olympics.com) London’s organizers frame the event as both a race and a fundraising day. Their event overview calls it the world’s biggest annual one-day fundraising event and the world’s most popular marathon. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) The 2026 field also included celebrity and costume runners alongside the elites. London Marathon Events highlighted Cynthia Erivo, Sebastian Vettel, Joe Wicks and Daddy Pig before the start. (londonmarathonevents.co.uk) By the finish, London had done both jobs at once: it staged world-record performances at the front and the biggest completed marathon ever behind them. (worldathletics.org) (guinnessworldrecords.com)